CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 04: Quarterback Colt McCoy #12 of the Cleveland Browns falls to the ground after being sacked by linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo #51 of the Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns Stadium on December 4, 2011 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)

Santa Cruz High and Cabrillo College alum Brendon Ayanbadejo, 36, had his contract officially terminated by the defending Super Bowl-champion Baltimore Ravens on Thursday.

Ayanbadejo — a 6-foot-1, 225-pound reserve linebacker and three-time Pro Bowler on special teams — believes his outspoken support of gay rights and same-sex marriage was one of the reasons that contributed to his dismissal, according to a report by Newsday.

“My bark is louder than my bite,” Ayanbadejo told Newsday on Thursday night, when he and Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe attended a Straight for Equality gala in New York. “I make a lot of noise and garner a lot of attention for various things off the football field. When that starts happening, why do you have that player around?”

According to the report, Ayanbadejo said he understood the move, acknowledging that he could be replaced with a less-expensive player.

"But I don't necessarily think that teams want this type of attention," he told Newday.

The Ravens responded by issuing a statement denying his advocacy led to his early release.

“We're surprised that he would indicate this,” said Kevin Byrne, the Ravens' senior vice president for public and community relations. “We have always been respectful of Brendon's opinions and his right to express those. Our decision regarding his departure from the team has everything to do with football. Nothing else.”

Later Thursday, Ayanbadejo tweeted: "Just a heads up I did an interview today and no way said I was cut because my views. I said my talk was louder than my production & at 36.

"When you are not producing it is a fair move. You can find cheaper guys to do what I do. Ravens are the BEST organization in the nfl period!"

Ayanbadejo went on to add: "Haven't read article that was published. I will be all over the news this week setting it straight!Don't believe EVERYTHING u read."

On Aug. 29, Maryland Delegate Emmett C. Burns Jr. (D-Baltimore County) sent a letter to the Ravens, blasting Ayanbadejo for his public stance on same-sex marriage. A week later, the Ravens front office told BaltimoreRavens.com that it would write Burns a response supporting Ayanbadejo's freedom of speech under the First Amendment.

In an interview with the Sentinel shortly after the incident, Ayanbadejo said Ravens president Dick Cass pulled him aside and gave him his support.

“He said to keep talking about what I believe in and that we think you're doing all the right things and keep being yourself,” Ayanbadejo said. “It really made my day to know that the organization I've been going to work for for the last five years is really on same page as me.”

Ayanbadejo didn't return a call from the Sentinel on Thursday.

He made $925,000 in 2012 with the Ravens. He had two years remaining on the three-year deal he signed prior to last season and was set to earn a base salary of $940,000 in 2013.

With the move, announced by Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome, the Ravens have cleared out their six oldest players.

According to the Baltimore Sun, the Ravens have dropped about $6 million below the salary cap with the moves.

Prior to Ayanbadejo's statement to Newsday, Newsome, in a statement, didn't rule out a return by Ayanbadejo: “He became a leader for us, and the door may not be closed to bring him back to help us again.”

After the Ravens announced the move, Ayanbadejo tweeted: “What's all this nonsense about me not being a raven any more? I will forever be a raven & walk with Baltimore as the 1 true champion!”

Ayanbadejo not only had an impact — literally speaking — on opposing players, but his teammates and coaches too.

“Brendon was the first player we signed when we arrived in 2008, and he went to the Pro Bowl again that season,” Baltimore coach John Harbaugh said in a statement. “We considered him one of the foundations of our team, and he gave me sound counsel as one of our team leaders.

“He was a tremendous contributor to our success, both on [special] teams and for our defense over the last five seasons, including our Super Bowl [victory] two months ago. And, he was a pleasure to have on our team. We'll stay in contact, I hope, but I'll miss our regular conversations.”

Days removed from his team's Super Bowl win over the San Francisco 49ers on Feb. 3, Ayanbadejo addressed the idea of retiring on top. He mentioned, despite having two years remaining on his contract, that the Ravens might cut some of their higher-paid players, including himself.

“It's not a bridge I've crossed yet,” he said.

On Thursday he told Newsday: “One thing I want to do is I want to facilitate change and be a catalyst for change. I want the NFL to make a stance. Other Fortune 500 companies, Apple, Google, they've all taken a stance against discrimination.”

Ayanbadejo, who received a bachelors degree in history at UCLA, is on pace to receive his masters in business from George Washington University in July.

He said when his playing career ends, he's interested in becoming involved with college athletes. He's also open to the idea of becoming an NFL analyst.

Ayanbadejo started his NFL career with Miami in 2003 as an undrafted free agent out of UCLA. He played two seasons with the Dolphins.

He has played 10 seasons, the last five with Baltimore. He started three games at linebacker for the Ravens in 2012 and recorded a career-high 43 tackles, including 14 special teams stops. He has led or shared the team lead in special-teams tackles in seven seasons.

He also played three seasons with Chicago (2005-07) — where he was born — helping the Bears reach Super Bowl XLI in Miami in 2007, when they fell 29-17 to the Indianapolis Colts.

Ayanbadejo has been an open proponent for gay marriage, a stance he reiterated in the days leading up to the Super Bowl after 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver made inflammatory remarks at Media Day. A well-spoken athlete, he has been published in numerous publications, including USA Today and the Santa Cruz Sentinel.

In his career, he has made seven career starts, recording 4.5 sacks, two interceptions and five forced fumbles. He made the Pro Bowl on special teams in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Ayanbadejo and longtime partner Natalee Uzcategui have two children, daughter Anaya, 6, and 24-month-old son Amadeus Prime. They live with Ayanbadejo in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Ayanbadejo said he and Uzcategui are holding off on marriage until same-sex marriages are allowed.